Cycling the Camino de Santiago: Geneva - Le Puy-en-Velay

The path gradually climbs at the foot of Mont Salève to reach Mont Sion. In the Pomier forest, a local artist has hidden several structures made from recycled metal. The pilgrim sculpture is particularly charming. Mont Sion is an ancient moraine of the Rhône glacier, which once covered the entire Geneva plain. The route continues over this series of hills, offering a panoramic view from Mont Blanc to the Jet d'Eau in Geneva! Before arriving in Frangy, a short detour through the village of Chaumont is recommended to wander its narrow streets in search of the ruins of the castle that overlooks it.

The Rhône River is the guiding thread of the day. It comes into view around a hedgerow from the heights of Desingy, as does the imposing Château de Pelly with its colorful tiles. Before 1860, the river formed the border between France and Savoy. In Seyssel, there are still two villages, one on each side, linked by a charming bridge. On one of the bridge's piers, a statue of the Virgin Mary protects the Rhône boatmen. The cities of Lyon and Geneva were built with stone from Seyssel, quarried nearby and transported by boat. The day continues along the river in the vast plain where one of the largest poplar plantations in Europe stretches out: the Chautagne.

The village of Chanaz, on the banks of the Savièse canal linking the Rhône to Lake Aix-les-Bains, is a popular tourist destination. The morning calm is ideal for a short visit! Then the Way of St. James climbs higher. The river is still visible, but from the vineyard-covered slopes of Jongieux. A wine tasting at one of the estates is tempting, but be warned, the day isn't over yet!

The afternoon is dedicated to climbing Mont Tournier (880 m), a small limestone massif, and descending into the Guiers valley. This evening, the stop is in St Genix sur Guiers, famous for its brioche with whole red pralines!

Crossing the bridge over the Guiers River, you leave Savoy and enter the Dauphiné region. One of the distinctive features of this area is its rammed earth houses, built from raw clay. The landscape becomes gentler, but the road is far from flat! A bocage landscape covers many of the small valleys that you must cross before reaching Lake Paladru. The smallest of the Alpine lakes is home to two archaeological sites, remnants of the Middle Ages, and several beaches!

A final climb to the Soulier (702 m) and you descend onto the Bièvre plain, turning your back on the Chartreuse mountains. This vast plain has inspired several artists: Lamartine, who stayed in Grand Lemps and wrote his poem "Le Vallon" there, and Hector Berlioz, born in La Côte-Saint-André, who pays tribute to it every year at the end of August during a music festival.

La Côte Saint André - Les Roches de Condrieu

The Bièvre River is dotted with hillocks that seem to rise from the plain like a string of islands above a calm sea. The summits of these hillocks are covered in forests, but their southern slopes offer a veritable balcony overlooking the plain and the Vercors massif in the distance. It is along these hillsides that the path continues its westward ascent. Between two hillocks, it descends into the plain and winds its way between fields of corn or sunflowers . At Faramans, a pond surrounded by trees offers a refreshing break! Several religious buildings punctuate the route, from simple wayside crosses to monasteries. On this stage, you will discover the Chapel of Salette and the Carmel of Notre Dame de Surieu . The center of the village of Revel Tourdan is also noteworthy.

Length: 60 km Elevation gain: +800 m / Elevation loss: -1030 m

The Rocks of Condrieu - Bourg Argental

A change of scenery! Here we are in one of France's renowned wine regions: Condrieu. Vine-covered hillsides overlook the Rhône River, which the path follows to Chavanay. Then begins the long climb towards the Velay region. It starts off tough; the slope leaving Chavanay is steep! Fortunately, the view over the Rhône Valley is lovely and offers plenty of opportunities for breaks! The terrain soon becomes more pleasant, and the path continues through orchards at the foot of the Pilat massif (1432 m). This allows you to recharge before the ascent to the Croix de Sainte Blandine, from where the panorama stretches all the way to the Alps. The valley then narrows, and fir trees appear on the slopes; here is Bourg Argental.

It's not just the landscape that changes now that you're on the granite of the Massif Central; the path is sandier, and when there are pebbles, they're more angular! The morning begins on a former railway line with panoramic views over the Deûme Valley. The route continues through a large fir forest and crosses the watershed between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Then comes the highest point of this stage at 1215m, just before Les Sietoux. A few more valleys to cross, where vegetation characteristic of granite flourishes: fir trees, broom, and heather, before you reach the Velay plateau. In Montfaucon, the Notre-Dame Chapel houses a collection of 12 16th-century paintings, unless you'd prefer a barefoot visit to the Mirandou Gardens!

This last stage is easier than the previous two. So even if it might seem more difficult on paper, it's actually quite manageable. And besides, it's the end of your trip, you're feeling great!

The route winds through the volcanic landscapes of the Velay region: the mountains have sugarloaf shapes, often covered in forest, but sometimes they reveal magnificent basalt columns. This is the case in Queyrières, a superb village with stone houses nestled around an ancient volcanic outcrop. The approach to Le Puy is via a pleasant walk that follows the Loire River, then the Borne River to the foot of the Rocher St Michel.

In July and August, every evening at 9:30 pm, several "sound and light" shows are projected onto the main historical buildings of the old town of Le Puy.

Our services end after breakfast.

Take advantage of the morning to visit this beautiful city with its pedestrian streets, the Saint Michel rock, the historic district and the cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.